Continuous capping machine



Jan. 1o,1939. @.RSTUART .2,143,806

' CONTINUOUS CAPPING MACHINE .l

Filed June 1937 '4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

avg Y 4 ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1939. l G.A R, STUART 2,143,806

CONTINUOUS 'GAPPING MACHINE Filed June r9, 1957 4 sheets-sheet? a2y FIG. 2. A i [05 sfo vMgg/Q] 10' ,/os ,27 99 C00 l//OF KZ Y0 a l O -l 779 272 Z/ @if l .12A 7! 7,277 Z I Z l 25 3 /a/U/ff 90 |Iz/ /5/ 73 g me d lINVENTOR.

ATTOR N EYS.

Jan. l0, 1939.

Filed June 9, 1957 4 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR.

ATTORNYS.

Jan. l0, 1939. G, R. STUARTI 2,143,806 CONTINUOUS CAPING` MACHINE Filed June 9, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /40 /4/ FGh 7 29 1% /z/ /zz f4 V- l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 10 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in filling and closing portable receptacles and more particularly to a continuous capping machine for applying closure caps to containers. 5 The primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved automatic continuous capping machine.

Another object is to provide an improved continuous capping machine including a container feeding means, a cap feeding means, and means intermittently actuating` the container feeding means and cooperable with (the cap feeding means to correctly position a cap on each container. is A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor for automatically supplying containers to the capping machine at regular intervals, even though the containers may be supplied to the conveyor at irregular intervals.

A still further object is to provide an improved arrangement of cap feeding means.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for leveling the material in the containers, and removing any excess ma- 5 terial therefrom, prior to capping of the containers.

Another object is to provide cap seating means arranged to dwell in contact with seated caps for a time suicient to permit gradual escape 30 or adjustment of container pressures liable to unseat the caps.

Gther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication and in which drawings:-

Fig-ire l is a plan View of the improved continuous capping machine and showing the improved material leveling device secured thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the machine, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 2A is a detail vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2A-2A of Figure 2.

Figures, 3, li and 5 are fragmentary perspecif tive views of the machine.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation showing a fragmentary development of the machine.

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective and vertical sectional views, respectively, of the improved material leveling device preferably? associated with the continuous cappingk machine.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred' embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference char- 5 acters designate corresponding parts throughout lil the several views, the letter A may generally designate the improved capping machine, which may include a base B, revolubly supporting a container carrierv, means D forfeeding containers to the carrier, means E Vfor feeding caps to the containers, means F for pressing the caps into the containers, a deiiector Gf` for diverting the containers `from the carrier onto the base, and means I-I- for leveling material inthe containers and removing any surplus material therefrom. Drive mechanism for the machine may include a Vmotor J, motion transmitting means K operatively connecting the motor and container carrier, motion transmitting means.` L operatively connecting the carrier and container feed means, and` motion transmitting means `lvl operatively connecting the carrier and cap feed means. e e

The base B mayinclude a suitable rectangular frame It, preferably of angle iron, horizontally supported as by legs II, and carrying a trans'- verse member `I2 revolubly supporting a vertical shaft I3. Over the frame IE) is secured a stationary `table M, preferably formed of noncorrosive `sheet material, provided with` a relatively large circular opening l5, concentric to the shaft I3, a relatively small Vcircular opening I6 tangent to the openingl and an intermediate sized opening Il ata `corner of the table having an arcuate edgell't` tangent to the opening I6.

Referring to the container, carrier C in detail, the `same may includea wheel I9, xedat its hub 29 to the shaft I3 as loyset` screw 2i, and provided with an annular rim 22. The carrier C may furtherinclude an annular plate 23, having an upstanding inner flange 2i provided at its upper end with an inturned annular flange 25` secured in spaced relation beneath the rim 22 as by sleeves 2 5 andbolts 2l, so that the annular plate 23 is supported in the opening I5 and substantially flush with the table I4. The upstanding inner flange 2t may be in the form of an upwardly convergent conic section, if desired. Secured in-"upwardly projecting relation to the annular plate 23 as by `screws 28 is a plurality of spaced apart eccentric abutments 29, which may also be in the form of upwardly convergent conic sections, if desired. These abutments divide the annular plate into a circular series of container-accommodating `zones 50 30. Rigidly secured in depending relation to the rim 22 is a plurality of spaced apart pins 3l, one over each of said abutments.

In order to supply each of the zones llfwith a container to be capped, means D is provided, 55

formed on the smaller disc 32.

and may comprise a relatively small disc 32 fixed to a rotatable vertically disposed shaft 33 in the opening I6, and substantially tangent to the annular plate 23; and a somewhat larger disc 34 xed to a rotatable vertically disposed shaft 35 in the opening l1, and substantiallytangent to the smaller disc 32. Positioned over thelarger disc 34 is a flat wide horizontally disposed container guide 35 having a concentrically disposed arcuate body portion 31 and a radially disposed shank portion 36 forming a guiding edge 39 leading to the periphery of the smaller disc 32. This guide 33 may be secured to an annular stationary segment 46 projecting from the table i4 adjacent one side of the smaller disc 32. Secured to the table i4 at the opposite side of the disc 32 and in uniformly spaced relation to rthe guiding edge 39 is a wall 4| extending from the periphery of the larger disc 34 to a position laterally of the center of the smaller disc 32 so that Yannular segmental paths are formed on the discs 32 and 34, communicating with each other through a path defined by the edge 39 and Wall 4|. A gate 43, pivotally mounted at one end 44, as by pin 45, extra-circumferentially of the disc 32, is preferably spring urged to a position Whereby its opposite free end 46 traverses the path For instance, a coil spring 41 encircling the pivit pin 45 may be secured at one end to the gate, as by screw 48, and at its opposite end may be secured to a tension adjusting nut 49 threaded on the upper end `portion of the pin and secured in any desired adjusted position by means of a lock nut 50, as

shown in Figure 4. Pivotally mounted adjacent the carrier C, as by pin 5| extending between upper and lower brackets 52-53 respectively, is a star wheel 54, provided with intersecting radially disposed walls 55, forming opposite right angular pockets 58; and fingers 51, extending radially outwardly from the walls 55, so that the pins 3|, upon rotation of the carrier C, will successively engage the fingers 51, for intermittently advancing the star wheel. Preferably, the fingers 51 are disposed in a horizontal plane common to the free end 46 of the gate so that upon each advancement of the star wheel, one of its fingers will engage and swing the gate 53 at its free end 46. Interposed between the upper bracket 52 and the starY wheel, and encircling the pivot pin 5|, is an expansion coil spring 58 for pressing upper and lower washers 59-6D, respectively, into frictional contact with the bracket and the star wheel, for dampening excessive rotation of the star Wheel. The bracket V52 may be supported by a standard 6| and may include legs 62--63 radially disposed With respect to the pin 5|, serving to bear the upper end of the pin 5| and to support a suitable cover or safety guard 64.

Means E for feeding caps to the containers is preferably positioned adjacent the carrier C, beyond means D in the direction of movement of the carrier, and may include a channel base 65 forming a slideway 66, radially of the carrier C, in which is mounted an elongate slide 61 carrying a reciprocable member 68 having its upper end portion 69 extending above the slideway and provided with a lug 10 projecting laterally of the upper end portion 69 in the direction of the carrier C. The base 65 may include a horizontally disposed stationary plate 1| provided with a slot 12 through which the upper Y end portion 69 extends with the lug 1U projecting above topV surface of the plate 1|, a distance no greater than the individual thickness of the caps 13. Secured to opposite sides of the plate 19, are upstanding strips 14, having oppositely undercut inner sides 15 forming a slideway radially beyond the carrier C, in which is releasably secured, as by set screws 16, a plate 11, provided with a groove 18 on its under side, for accommodating the projecting upper end portion of the reciprocable member 68. By releasing the screws 16, the plate 11' may be removed from the slideway, or partially withdrawn as shown by broken lines in Figure l. This plate 11 may include an upstanding sleeve 19, supporting a vertical tube 88 in which a stack of caps 13 may be positioned, one over another. This tube may be provided withV a vertical slo-t 80a so that container caps provided with conventional laterally projecting pull tabs (not shown) may be accommodated, if desired. Preferably, the plate 11 is provided with a cylindrical opening 8| forming a downward continuation of the tube 86, and a lateral passageway 82 at the lower end of the cylindrical opening 8|, so that the lowermost cap 83 may rest upon the top surface of the plate 1| and, upon reciprocation of the member 63, will be moved by the lug 15 through the passageway 82, and onto a shelf 84 forming an extension of the plate 1|. Preferably, the shelf 8d is positioned over a segment of the annular series of containeraccommodating zones 36 of the carrier C, over the path of the containers in said Zones and slightly above the plane of the top edges of the containers. In the top surface of the shelf 84, a transverse groove 85 may be provided through which the lower ends of pins 3| pass, as the carrier C rotates, so that the shelf 83 is successively swept free of caps 13 by the pins. A flat spring 86 may be secured at one end 81 as by screw 88 so that its opposite end 39 will extend alongside the carrier C beneath the shelf 84 and in frictional contacting relation to the side walls of the containers 98, tending to retard movement of the containers and thereby insuring firm contact of the containers with the abutments 29, so

that the containers will be correctly positioned in the zones 3U. It will thus be seen that, with suitable means M, which will subsequently be described, for reciprocating the member 68, once for each container passing beneath the shelf 84, the caps 13 will be successively positioned on the shelf and, upon emergence of the containers from beneath the shelf, one after another, the pins 3i will successively sweep the caps from the shelf so that an individual cap will fall upon each container.

Referring now to means F for pressing the caps into the containers 9E), the same may include a series of spaced apart plungers 9|, having vertically disposed cylindrical stems 92, reciprocably mounted as by bearing sleeves 93, in the rim 22, and positioned one over each container-accommodating Zone 35. At their lower ends, the stems 92 may each be provided with a plunger disc 94, of a size no greater than the size of the caps 13, and at their upper ends, the stems may terminate in heads 95, each including a cylindrical intermediate portion 95, a lower downwardly convergent portion 91 and a top upwardly convergent portion 98. Encircling the upper end of the vertical shaft of the carrier C, and forming a bearing therefor, is the hub 99 of a stationary spider wheel E69 having a rim provided with radially projecting arms |62 adjustably mounted on the threaded upper ends of posts |63 between nuts |04. Preferably, the rim ll forms a channel-shaped camway |65 in which the plunger heads Q5 slide as the carrier CY rotates, and may include an upper flange portion |6 extending over the portion 9e of they plunger head, for lowering the plunger, a relatively narrower lower flange portion ll terminating beneath the portion 5l of the plunger head adjacent the stern, for elevating the plunger, and a web portion |08 connecting the inner peripheries of the iiange portions li-lill. rllhe camway m5 includes a portion it@ suinciently elevated to sustain the plunger discs ibi above the lower ends of the pins as the plungers pass the star wheel 54' and the shelf till, so that the plungers will not interfere with the co-action of the pins with the star wheel and the shelf. Just beyond the shelf the camway is provided with a declining portion ll, which depresses the plungers so that the caps 13 are forced into the mouths of the containers @il and are seated in annular internal sockets or grooves of the containers. The camway may also include a portion H2 connecting the lower end of the declining portion Htl to an inclined portion H3, adaptedto successively elevate the plungers to their normal level above the lower ends of the pins. As shown in Figure 1, the cam portion H2 is relatively long and comprises approximately of the entire spider wheel ltd, so that the plungers are caused to dwell in their depressed position for a substantial portion of the cycle of operation of the machine.

Container deflecting means G may be positioned adjacent the carrier C somewhat beyond the inclined portion i3, in the direction of movement of the carrier, to deflect the containers from the carrier, after the plungers have been elevated out of engaging relation with the container mouths. The deilector may comprise an elongate strip l ifi secured at one end l5 as by screw H5 to a stationary portion lll of the machine, and obliquely crossing the path of movement of 'the containers on the carrier C, the free end H8 of the strip extending in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the carrier C.

Positioned adjacent the container feeding means D is a device H, for leveling material in the containers and removing any excess material therefrom, prior to capping. Referring more particularly to` Figures 7 and 8, the device may include a shaft H5 supported intermediate its reduced threaded ends |20, by spaced apart bearings |26, on opposite sides of a suitable pulley |22, fixed to the shaft as by set screw |23, and connected as by belt |211 to a preferably independent motor (not shown). Secured at opposite ends of the shaft H9 as by co-axial internally threaded bosses |25 and projecting from the inner end faces 25 are cylindrical disc-like spinners |21 provided at their outer end faces 28 with inwardly convergent conical annular rims |29 terminating in annular seats i3@ against which the mouth ends of lled containers may be posi- -tioned. Each spinner is provided with a radially disposed cutting and leveling blade 53| positioned between its annular seat |35 and the axis of the spinner, and projecting obliquely outwardly from the plane of the annular seat with its free end extending in the direction of rotation of the spinner. Adjacent the leading side of each blade it! is a slot |32 extending through the spinner and forming an outlet passageway therethrough for conducting excess material from the container to the inner end face |26 of the spinner. The slot |132 may terminate at its inner end in an oblique surface |33 extending from the axis of the cylindrical member at its juncture with the boss', and which may be formed by obliquely cutting away a portion of the boss adjacent the cylindrical member. Over each spinner is secured as by cap screws |34; a housing |35 providedy with an inwardly convergent conical annular recess |36 terminating in an aperture |31 encircling the spinner adjacent its outer end face. A suitable opening |38 may also be provided for accommodating the shaft l i9. While the housing at its upperA endv portion |35 may comprise a cylindrical portion |55 and a conical portion tel, the lower end of the housing preferably depends to form a skirt |42 having an opening H53 in its base through which excess material ldd may fall into a suitable container |45. This fill-leveling and overload-removing device forms the subject-matter of my divisional application Serial Number 175,966.

The motor J, preferably electrically-operated, may include a brush regulating crank |4i6, for adjusting the speed of rotation.

Means K, connecting the motor to the carrier C, as shown in Figures l and 2, may include a worm wheel itil, secured as by set screw |46 to the lower end of carrier shaft I3, meshing with a worm |139 xed to shaft |59 rotatably carried by a suitable bracket |5|. Secured to the shaft 50 is a pulley |52 driven, as by belt i53, from the motor J.

As for means L, connecting the carrier C and container feed means D, the same may include a pulley |54', secured as by set screw |55 to the carrier shaft I3, carrying a belt |56 which is trained about driven pulleys IST-|58 suitably fixed to shafts 33 and 35, respectively, of discs 32 and 34, and an idler pulley |55, in a manner that counter-clockwise rotation of the carrier shaft |3 will rotate disc 32 in a clockwise direction and the disc 34 in a counter-clockwise direction.

Means M operatively connecting the carrier C `and cap feed means E preferably includes a spur gear Hifi, secured to the shaft |3 as by set screw itil, and meshing with a spur pinion |52 keyed to a vertically disposed crank shaft |53 rotatably carried at its lower end in a suitable bearing $65, and provided with a crank |55 at its upper end. Pivotally secured to the free end of this crank is a pitman |65, operatively connected to the elongate slide 6l for imparting reciprocatory movement to the member 68. The ratio be .tween the number of teeth in spur gear It@ and spur pinion |62 may be in proportion as the number of Zones 3E) of the carriers C is to one, so

that the member 53 will be reciprocated during each cycle of rotation of the carrier wheel a number of times equal to the number of container-accommodating zones of the carrier,

The operation of the improved machine will now be briefly described. The containers, after being filled by any suitable means (not shown) are positioned one by one with their mouths in Contact with the annular seats |35 of the spinners, the blades |3| of which will remove the excess material |44 which will pass through the slot |32 and fall through the opening |43 of the skirt H32 into the container |45. As two spinners are provided, one at each end of the shaft H9, two

operators may be employed for this work, if desired, each at an opposite end of the device, and adjacent the container feed means D. After the material in` each container has been leveled, the operator may place the container on the disc 3d of the feed means D, so that the same may be conveyed to the disc 32 along the path defined by the guides 36 and 4I to the gate 43, normally positioned across the path. Referring to Figure l, a series of containers 90 are shown resting on the discs 32 and 32. As long as the gate 43 is closed, a frictional slipping action will occur between the container bottoms and the discs. By arranging the larger disc in advance of the smaller disc, containers deposited on the larger disc at irregular intervals will tend to overtake previously deposited containers before reaching the gate 43, thereby tending to insure a continuous supply of containers at the gate. As the carrier C rotates, pins 3l will intermittently advance the star wheel 54 in a clockwise direction, which will thereupon swing the gate 43 to permit the disc 32 to convey a 'container beyond the gate, Continued rotation of the star wheel will release the gate which will thereupon return to its normal position across the path of the containers under the influence of spring 41. The container beyond the gate will be conveyed by the disc 32 into one of the pockets 56 of the star wheel. As another pin engages the star wheel, the gate will again open to pass an- Y other container to the star wheel, as the latter,

in advancing a further step, brushes the previously passed container into a zone 3&3 of the carrier C. As the containers thus deposited on the carrier C pass beneath the shelf S4, they are positioned by the spring 86 in contacting relation with the abutments 2i) so that the 'containers cO-axially align with the plungers Si, which are in their elevated position and pass over the shelf. Reciprocable member @3, actuated by means M, successively positions container caps 'i3 on shelf 84, which are each swept off by a pin 3l, so that a cap falls upon each container in correct registration with the continer mouth. Beyond the cap feed means E, an additional spring It? may be provided to brush against the containers so that, as the plungers 9i are depressed, by the declining portion i iii of the camway il, the containers will tend to remain adjacent the abutments 29, directly below the plunger discs te. After the caps are pressed into the containers, the plunger's are elevated by the inclined portion [i3 of the camway, and the containers are then deiiected by means G, from the carrier C onto the table I4, adjacent the container feed means D, so that, if desired, a single operator standing adjacent one of the spinners i2? may not only operate the spinner and place the uncapped containers on the disc 34, but also remove the capped containers from the table for packing or storage. Normally, however, the machine, in actual reduction to practice, has a capacity so great as to require the services of at least four operators in leveling and feeding the uncapped containers and in removing and packingor storing the capped containers.

Various changes may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim: Y

1. In a machine for capping containers, a rotatable carrier and means for successively supplying containers to said carrier including a rotatable container supporting disc substantially tangent to the carrier and with which disc said containers tend to rotate when supported by the disc, a gate pivoted at one end extra-circumferentially of the disc so that its opposite free end may extend over the disc to prevent rotation of the containers with the disc, means urging the free end into the path of movement of said containers, a star wheel positioned in the path of movement of containers on said disc, and having fingers each adapted to engage the free end of said gate to swing said gate out of the path of movement of said containers, said fingers swinging successively across the path of movement of said containers and toward said carrier whereby to successively transfer containers from said disc to said carrier, and means rotatable with said carrier intermittently actuating the star wheel.

2. In a machine for capping containers, a rotatable carrier provided with an .annular series of container-accommodating zones, means including a star wheel for successively supplying containers one to each of said zones, a cap-supporting shelf beneath which said containers pass i,

in succession as the carrier rotates, and spacedapart pins secured to the carrier and arranged to intermittently actuate the star wheel and to successively sweep caps off said shelf onto the con tainers passing therebeneath.

3. In a machine for capping containers, a turntable provided with upper and lower decks, spacedapart abutments on the lower deck defining an annular series of container-accommodating Zones,

plungers reciprocably carried by the upper deck one over each of said zones, intermittent feed means for ysupplying containers one to each of said zones as the turntable rotates, including a star wheel, intermittent feed means for supplying caps to the containers in said zones including a cap-supporting shelf beneath which said containers pass as the turntable rotates, said shelf being provided with a groove, and spaced-apart depending pins having free lower ends, carried by the turntable one for each of said zones; each of said pins being arranged to intermittently actuate said star wheel to feed a container to one of said zones, and further to traverse said shelf with its free lower end projecting into said groove, to

feed a cap to a container in one of said zones.

4. In a machine of the character described, a movable carrier provided with an endless series of container-.accomodating zones, means for successively supplying containers to said carrier including a conveyor supporting and tending to advance containers resting thereon into adjacent relation to said carrier, and a star wheelv positioned in the path of movement of the containers on the conveyor and in overlapping relation to the series of zones of the carrier, for successively shifting containers from the conveyor to the carrier as the star Wheel turns, means successively supplying caps to the containers as the carrier moves, including a shelf beneath which the containers pass as the carrier moves, and pins movable with said carrier one for each of said zones, intermittently advancing the star wheel to cause containers to be fed one to each of said zones of the carrier, and sweeping the shelf so that caps successively positioned thereon will be caused to fall one on each of said containers, as they pass beneath the shelf.

5. A, continuous capping machine for capping the top ends of containers, comprising a rotatable carrier provided with an annular series of container-accommodating zones, means for successively supplying containers to said carrier including a rotatable container-conveying disc adjacent the carrier and with which disc said containers tend to rotate when supported thereon, and a star wheel positioned in the path of movement of said container-accommodating zones of the carrier for successively shifting containers from the disc to the carrier upon rotation of the star wheel, reciprocable plungers mounted on said carrier one over each of said Zones, means reciprocating said plungers upon rotation of the carrier, means successively supplying caps to the tops of said containers as the carrier rotates, including a shelf beneath which the containers pass as the carrier rotates, means for successively positioning caps on the top of the shelf, means rotatable with the carrier intermittently advancing the star wheel and sweeping said shelf, whereby to rst cause a container to be fed to the carrier and then a cap to the top of the container, prior to downward movement of the plunger positioned over the zone or" said container, and a delector successively diverting said containers from said zones subsequent to downward and upward reciprocation of said plungers.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a base provided with a slot, and including a shelf at one end of the slot, said shelf being provided with a groove, a vertical tube carried by the base with the lower end of the tube over the slot for holding a stack of caps one over another with the lowermost cap of said stack superjacent the slot, said base eing provided with a lateral aperture at the lower end of the tube, adjacent the shelf, and of a size to permit passage of the lowermost cap from the stack to the shelf, a reciprocable member in the slet having an upper end portion projecting from said slot a distance no greater than the thickness of the lowermost cap, said end portion engaging the edge of said cap and moving the cap through said aperture ontoy the shelf, a container carrier conveying a series of containers beneath the shelf, pins movable with said carrier, one for each of said containers for sweeping said shelf, as each container passes therebeneath, said pins each having a free end adapted to extend into said groove, and means imparting a reciprocating motion to said member for each container that passes beneath the shelf.

7. In a machine for capping containers, a turntable provided with an annular series of container-accommodating Zones, means successively feeding containers to said zones, means successively feeding caps onto the containers in said zones, a series of plungers over said zones for seating said caps with respect to said containers, and cam means depressing said plungers to seat said caps and retaining the plungers so depressed during approximately 180 rotation of the turntable and subsequently elevating said plungers.

8. In a machine of the character described, a movable carrier provided with an endless series of container-accommodating zones, means for successively supplying containers to said zones including a turn-table supporting and tending to move containers resting thereon in an arcuate path of a given radius leading toward the movable carrier, means intermittently arresting movement of the containers toward the movable carrier and arranged to permit the passage of a container from the turn-table to each of said zones, a second turn-table for supplying containers to the irst turn-table, said second turn-table supporting and tending to move containers resting thereon in an arcuate path of a greater radius than said given radius, and means guiding containers from the arcuate path of the second turntable to the arcuate path of the first turn-table, whereby containers subsequently supplied to the Second turn-table will tend to overtake previouslysupplied containers along said arcuate paths.

9. In a machine of the character described, a movable carrier provided with a series of container-accommodating zones, means for successively supplying containers to said carrier including a turn-table of a given radius having an annular marginal portion supporting and tending to move, at a given rate of speed, containers resting thereon in an arcuate path toward the movable carrier, means intermittently arresting movement of the containers toward the movable carrier and arranged to permit the passage of a container from the turn-table to each oi' said Zones, a second turn-table of a radius greater than the radius of the first turn-table, for supplying containers to the first turn-table, said second turn-table having an annular marginal portion substantially tangent to the marginal portion of the rst turn-table, supporting and tending to move, at a rate of speed greater than said given rate, containers resting thereon, in an arcuate path toward the first turn-table, and means deilecting containers from the second turn-table to the first turn-table, whereby containers subsequently supplied to the second turn-table will tend to overtake previously-supplied containers along said arcuate paths.

l0. In a machine for capping containers, a carrier including an upper and a lower horizontal support, spaced-apart vertically disposed plungers reciprocably mounted in the upper support, spaced-apart abutments on the lower support dening a series of zones beneath said plungers for the accommodation of containers to be capped, said abutments being formed by solids of revolution having their axes vertical, and cap screws eccentric to said vertical axes and releasably fixing said abutments to the lower support, whereby upon orientation of said abutments about said cap screws the location of said zones is shifted to position containers of different diameters in co-axial alignment with said plungers.

GEORGE R. STUART. 

